Yin Xiaojiu

Two hours after setting up the formation, Ye Tong had replenished his exhausted vital energy. His cultivation was still too weak, but that saved him a great deal of time. Saving a life was like fighting a fire; the old lady of the Zhang family was on the brink of death. Since he had already received the benefit, he directly chose to refine Hundred Solutions Liquid for a second time.

In the end.

At the moment his vital energy was exhausted for the second time, Ye Tong successfully refined the Hundred Solutions Liquid.

"Put it away."

Zhang Pinsou put away the Hundred Solutions Liquid with a complicated expression and sincerely thanked him. He deeply regretted that when Yin Yang Old Freak Mu Wutian had set Precious Medicine Workshop ablaze, he had chosen to stand by with folded arms. If he had joined the firefighting effort back then, not only could he have preserved the favor of that distinguished person, but he could also have formed a good bond with Ye Tong.

How could Golden Scales remain trapped in a pond?

Having judged countless people throughout his life, he seemed to have already seen a peerless genius of breathtaking brilliance about to burst forth into the world. In the future, perhaps Ye Tong would become someone even he would need to look up to.

What a pity.

There were thousands upon thousands of medicines in the world, yet none that sold regret.

With deep regret in his heart, Zhang Pinsou left directly with his daughter.

Standing beside the cauldron, Ye Tong watched Mu Qianlan, whose beauty was enough to steal one's breath, yet his heart remained utterly calm. He asked, "The Zhang father and daughter have already left. Why haven't you?"

Mu Qianlan said with a half-smile, "In all of Cold Mountain City, this is the most suitable place for cultivation. With such abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth, wouldn't it be a waste not to cultivate?"

Ye Tong said, "That is too hollow."

Mu Qianlan covered her mouth and chuckled. "Fine! Then I'll tell you the real reason. I came to Cold Mountain City this time to train on my own. Meeting the Zhang father and daughter was merely a coincidence. Now that they have obtained the Hundred Solutions Liquid, I believe the old lady of the Zhang family will certainly be safe and sound. So wherever I wish to go, I am free to go."

Ye Tong asked, "And?"

Mu Qianlan smiled. "And... you have piqued my interest. I intend to stay and see what other miracles might happen to you."

Miracles? What miracles could there be? He had merely refined a batch of pills. Could that even count as a miracle?

Ye Tong shook his head and said calmly, "I have no interest in you."

Mu Qianlan's expression stiffened, but she soon smiled again. "The more you say that, the more interested I become. Forget it, I have some matters to attend to. Once I am done, I will return."

With that, Mu Qianlan drifted away, leaving with carefree grace.

Watching Mu Qianlan's retreating back, Ye Tong sighed inwardly. He belonged to the Miyi lineage, able to peer into yin and yang and perceive the secrets of heaven. Whenever he revealed heavenly secrets, evil karma would entangle him. Anyone who took an interest in him and grew close to him would inevitably be implicated. Other than Medicine Slave, the old man who spent day and night by his side and would one day defy heaven to change his fate, he did not wish to become close to anyone else.

No!

There was one more person.

A delicate little face surfaced in Ye Tong's mind. She was not someone he had known before, yet she was also someone he knew—a little girl with a pure heart, who had given so much for him.

Yin Xiaojiu.

A poor child from a destitute household in Cold Mountain City, she had been sent by her parents to a textile shop in her early years and signed a twenty-year contract selling herself. Yet her body was cold by nature, and she was frail and sickly. The textile shop had thrown her out years ago. Now, Yin Xiaojiu could only linger around the herb market, serving as a broker for visiting adventurers. Part of the commissions and tips she earned went toward supporting her family, while the rest was spent on Ye Tong.

Having inherited Ye Tong's memories, he had also inherited his feelings.

Ye Tong seemed to see, in the dark, an invisible thread of heavenly law that had already bound him and Yin Xiaojiu together. Severing it would be exceedingly difficult.

"Young Master."

When Medicine Slave returned after completing his task, dozens of craftsmen followed behind him.

Ye Tong asked, "How much blue silver will it take to rebuild Precious Medicine Workshop?"

Medicine Slave said, "If we rebuild it to its previous scale, including construction materials, it will cost a total of fourteen hundred taels of blue silver. Our Precious Medicine Workshop is in a remote location, with plenty of vacant land around it. If we expand, we can make use of the nearby open space. The separate bathing room you wanted before can also be arranged."

"Yes, I know." Ye Tong continued, "How much blue silver will the expansion require?"

Medicine Slave said, "I have already made inquiries. It will take around two thousand taels."

Without hesitation, Ye Tong said, "Then expand it. After all, this is where we will be staying for the time being! Medicine Slave, later, take one thousand taels of blue silver and buy some jade. Also, I will make a list of things I need. Buy those as well."

"Yes!"

Medicine Slave nodded with a smile.

After a moment of silence, Ye Tong watched the craftsmen begin clearing the ruins and slowly said, "Though we have some blue silver now, we cannot simply sit and eat away a mountain. I need medicinal herbs, and there are many herbs in the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range. Over the next two days, make proper arrangements for rebuilding Precious Medicine Workshop. In two days, we will go to the Golden Phoenix Mountain Range."

Afterward.

Ye Tong obtained two gold notes from Medicine Slave, worth two hundred taels of blue gold—equivalent to two thousand taels of blue silver—then hurried toward Warm Medicine House. He needed Iron Ring Grass. Though he knew there were few people who bought Iron Ring Grass, anything could happen. Only by buying it back as soon as possible could he rest easy.

The herb market of Cold Mountain City covered a vast area and was divided into two sections. The East side was the stall district, where small vendors set up their wares. Though most of the herbs sold there were ordinary, precious medicinal herbs occasionally appeared as well. The western side was the shop district, containing several hundred herb shops. Most carried fine-quality herbs, though there was no lack of inferior goods passing themselves off as the real thing.

Ye Tong walked along the blue-brick path and passed through the shop district.

He had lived in this herb market for ten years. During the first nine years, he had scarcely stepped beyond Precious Medicine Workshop. Only in the most recent year had he begun frequently moving through the herb market to purchase the herbs he needed. He had even toured all of Cold Mountain City several times.

South of the herb market was Cold Mountain City's large trading market, where adventurers bought and traded goods. Between the two markets lay a hundred-meter-wide stretch of open land, upon which ten fighting arenas had been erected.

Adventurers.

They were desperadoes who wore their lives on their belts. For wealth and resources, fighting with others was commonplace. Yet Cold Mountain City had its own rules. Private fighting was strictly forbidden, especially in the trading market and herb market. Therefore, whenever adventurers encountered enemies, they would choose to climb onto the arenas and fight until one of them died.

Furthermore, if adventurers in the trading market or herb market set their eyes on the same item, they would often use their fists to determine who ultimately possessed it.

Here, martial strength was revered.

In this world, victors were kings, and the strong were honored.

Warm Medicine House was not in the herb market, so Ye Tong did not wish to waste time here. However, just as he was about to leave the herb market, a figure blocked his path.

Aunt Fang.

She was the wife of a stall owner in the stall district. Because of Yin Xiaojiu, she was somewhat familiar with Ye Tong. At that moment, Aunt Fang, dressed in a jade-checkered blouse with her hair neatly coiled, had lost her usual gentle and refined demeanor. She said anxiously, "Ye Tong, I was just about to go to Precious Medicine Workshop to find you! Xiao Jiu... Xiao Jiu has gone onto the arena."

Ye Tong froze, then his expression changed drastically. He seized Aunt Fang's arm and pulled her toward the arenas as he hurriedly asked, "Aunt Fang, what happened? With Xiao Jiu's level of cultivation, why would she go onto an arena?"

One had to know.

Yin Xiaojiu had entered the path of cultivation, and it was he who had taught her the cultivation method she practiced. According to the division of the Qi Refining Eighteen Levels, Yin Xiaojiu could at most be considered at the First Layer of Postnatal. She was somewhat stronger than an ordinary person, but if she encountered a cultivator, she would absolutely be unable to withstand even a single blow.

Aunt Fang said, "It's Butcher Zhang's son. He and Xiao Jiu fought over the right to serve as a broker for a customer, and they went to the arena to compete. Ye Tong, Aunt Fang knows your health is poor, but Xiao Jiu is all skin and bones. How could she have ever fought anyone? If that strong boy from Butcher Zhang's family injures or cripples her, Xiao Jiu's life will be ruined. Think of something and help Xiao Jiu!"

"Aunt Fang, rest assured. As long as I am here, Xiao Jiu will be fine."

Ye Tong moved as swiftly as if he had wings. When he reached the third arena area, he found it already packed three layers deep within and three layers without. Many people had gathered there. Humans had an instinct for watching excitement; even a duel between two children of twelve or thirteen had drawn a sizeable crowd, including quite a few adventurers with powerful auras.

On the arena.

The small and slender Yin Xiaojiu looked somewhat flustered, but the fists she clenched tightly were remarkably firm. Opposite her stood a boy with a tiger-like head and tiger-like brain, half a head taller than Yin Xiaojiu.

"You stinking girl, kneel down and admit your mistake. Then I'll be a little gentler later. Otherwise, I'll break your legs and make you crawl around here begging for the rest of your life." Though Zhang Xiaofei was still young, his father was a butcher, and he had seen bloodshed from childhood. There was therefore a ruthless streak in his bones.

His words also made quite a few adventurers around them nod inwardly.

Ruthlessness!

Only then could one survive in this world where the strong devoured the weak.

Yin Xiaojiu said stubbornly, "I was clearly the one who met that customer first. Why are you trying to steal him from me? Your father is a butcher, so you do not lack blue silver at all. But I still have to save blue silver to buy medicine for Brother Yezi!"

Outside the crowd.

Ye Tong was forcing his way through the crowd when he suddenly heard Yin Xiaojiu's words. He felt as though he had been struck by lightning, and a tremor passed through his heart.

So it turned out.

She had fought with the other side over the chance to serve as a broker, even going so far as to step onto the arena, all to earn money to buy medicine for him?

"This... foolish girl."

Ye Tong had thought that, as his loved ones from that world gradually passed away, he had long since gained a heart of iron and stone. Yet Yin Xiaojiu's pure and innocent feelings suddenly made him understand that there was still a softest place within his heart.

On the arena.

Zhang Xiaofei did not rush to attack. In his eyes, this tiny little thing, weak enough to be blown over by the wind, was not worth three punches and two kicks from him. He had loved showing off since childhood, and after his father spent quite a bit of money to have him train in fist and foot techniques under a boxing master, he had become even more arrogant and conceited.

At this moment.

With so many people watching, he felt he had become the main character, the most dazzling person there.

Zhang Xiaofei crooked a finger and said disdainfully, "You stinking girl, you still want to save money to buy medicine for someone else? I think the money you save should be used to buy medicine for yourself later! Come on, this young master will give you three moves."